In a survey-based study, users of medical cannabis reported experiencing statistically significant better overall quality of life (QoL), satisfaction with their health, less pain, less anxiety, less depression, better sleep, less visits to the emergency department and hospital, and fewer sick days versus non-users, reported Nicolas Schlienz, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Epilepsy patients who used medical cannabis reported significantly better satisfaction with their overall health, better sleep, and less depression and anxiety than non-users. They also reported fewer hospital admissions over the previous month, the authors said in a presentation at the American Psychological Association (APA) annual meeting.

After consuming medical cannabis, these epilepsy patients who used cannabis reported significant improvements over baseline in four health measures: overall health satisfaction, sleep for children only based on Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, depression, and prescription drug use.